Today I woke up with a splitting headache and stiff upper back. This is not the first morning that I have felt this crappy; yet today I noticed my half-assed honoring of my body temple for the past two months.   Yes, I am a fitness trainer who exercises regularly and eats healthfully.  Yes, I challenge clients to follow the same regimen; yet I often treat my body as if it were an inanimate machine instead of a precious, dynamic organism.  Did I tell myself this morning “Great job, Sue, let’s nourish YOU of today”?  Nope.  Instead, I berated my body with negative comments such as “You’re falling apart.” “Get with the program.” “Suck it up and get going.”  Can you relate?  You may have heard the saying that, if you treated your car the way that you treat your body, you would be walking, not driving.

On your last airline trip, do you remember the flight attendant’s asking you to put on your oxygen mask before helping others? It makes perfect sense to have oxygen flowing in your own lungs before you attempt to help others breathe, right?   So why do many of us in the helping and healing professions neglect our own sacred vessels, by depriving them of the basics of good food, rest, exercise, and play?

The definition of “good health” isn’t simply the absence of illness or disease.  Rather, it is the ability to support not only your own bodily functions and needs, but to also lend support and service to others in need.  This optimum state of physical well being is what I call “overflow,” which requires the tending of your mind, body, and spirit.

Quiz: If you were to rate your body’s vibrancy right now, what would it be?  (1 being “dragging big time;” 10 being “leaping for the sky.”)  Now, what’s between you and being a 10 on a more consistent basis?

What stands between me and being a consistent 10, is the eighteen inches between my head and my heart:   the crazy belief that I must do, do, do, in order to be of service and real value in the world.  Unlike other cultures, we in the U.S. do not highly regard or reward “being”.  Instead, our culture’s success stories highlight rough and tough individuals who overcame big challenges and accomplished well-recognized feats, regardless of the toll on their bodies.   Ironically, the U.S. heritage of pioneering spirit and rugged individualism does not translate into happiness.  For example, we ranked much lower than did other countries in the categories of “being well-rested” and “having a work/life balance” (2011 Legatum).

In the spirit of supporting physical vibrancy in Passioneers who seek to thrive as you give back, here are five tips for experiencing more overflow in your body temple:

1) Healthful Eating. The technology adage of “garbage in, garbage out” is very relevant for our physical bodies.  Eight years ago a dear friend helped me to organic-ize my life and make better choices about what I put into my body.  Most recently, I have eliminated meat (or “anything with a face,” my friend says).  Each day,  I also drink at least one gallon of water, eat five or more small meals, and avoid processed foods and additives.

2) Rest. Most American are sleep-deprived and do not give themselves the requisite eight to nine hours of sleep for optimal health.  Some of my hotshot friends attest that they subsist on five hours or less of sleep each night.   Well, that’s when I push the B.S. button and say that the self-care “fumes” that they live on are going to kill them, eventually.   Schedule your days so that you have plenty of rest, and your body will thank you.  Profusely.

3) Exercise. As you age, the importance of exercise increases exponentially.   In this electronic age, it is easy to forget the hazards of sitting in front of a computer or big screen TV for endless hours.  Find an activity that you adore and an accountability buddy who will enjoy it with you. Here in the Pacific Northwest, my favorite activities are hiking, walking, and being out on the glorious water. Find time to exercise at least three times this week.   If you already exercise regularly, explore a new activity and a new location.

4) Quiet Reflection. In today’s society, we are bombarded with an overwhelming stimuli from a plethora of sources.  It is easy to go several days without any quiet time, let alone time for self-reflection.  A dear friend once told me that meditation would transform my life, and I didn’t believe her.  She was absolutely right. Now I create an appointment in my Google calendar every day for 30 minutes or more of meditation. While I don’t always honor the appointment, I do set the intention.   What would become possible if you created at least 15 minutes of quiet time this upcoming week?  Test it out!

5) Play. I must confess that I don’t experience enough joy, delight and play, which includes time with friends, music, my dogs, in nature, writing, dancing, and travel.   What does play look like for you?   Last month I took a fun, short trip to Southern California and surprised myself  with how much of a blast I had:  walking the beach, exploring new restaurants, meeting old and new friends, and meditating on a bench overlooking the Pacific Ocean.   This week, book at least one hour of play time in your calendar.  Bonus points if you invite a partner in play!

“To keep the body in good health is a duty, for otherwise we shall not be able to trim the lamp of wisdom, and keep our mind strong and clear. Water surrounds the lotus flower, but does not wet its petals.” ~Buddha

Photo Attribution: Andrew Stawarz